David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on April 9, 2012April 9, 2012 by David Shama

Lurtsema said choosing a player in the first round of the NFL draft doesn’t guarantee later performance. “One-third will be total busts,” he said. “One-third will be mediocre.”

Among the Vikings draft choices last year was tight end Kyle Rudolph in the second round. The 6-6, 258- pound Rudolph impressed in part-time work during 2011 and Lurtsema described him as “the steal of the draft.”

Congratulations to the Fitzgerald family, including Larry Sr. and Larry Jr., for ongoing efforts to raise money for charities involving breast cancer, HIV and urban education. The eighth annual Carol Fitzgerald Memorial Fund Benefit was held last Friday at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley.

In its March 26 baseball preview issue, Sports Illustrated predicts the Angels, who play at Target Field this afternoon in the Twins home opener, will win the American League pennant and defeat the Giants in the World Series.

The magazine reports that Albert Pujols’ new 10-year contract with the Angels includes a bonus payment of $7 million if he hits 763 career home runs, breaking the major league record of 762 held by Barry Bonds. The 32-year-old Pujols has hit 445 home runs in his big league career that began in 2001.

Pujols ranked No. 3 nationally in Majestic jersey sales in 2011, according to a MLB.com news release last week. The Yankees’ Derek Jeter was No. 1 with the Phillies’ Cliff Lee No. 2. The Twins’ Joe Mauer ranked No. 12.

Despite numerous media reports linking Gophers assistant coach Ron Jirsa to the head coaching search at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith said he expects no change in his staff for next season.

Smith had only two scholarships available for his 2012 recruiting class. The two incoming recruits, Wally Ellenson and Charles Buggs, will attend summer school at Minnesota.

Smith is an “11-12” handicapper and would love to play Augusta National Golf Club.

Gophers senior Ralph Sampson III is expected to attend the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this week. Also attending the pre-NBA draft event is Bloomington native and Badgers player Jordan Taylor, according to the tournament website.

The April 9 issue of Sports Illustrated includes a college basketball top 10 for 2012-13 and Indiana is ranked No. 1. The other schools in order are Louisville, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Syracuse, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Arizona and Memphis.

Charlotte coach Paul Silas was an NBA forward whose 16-year playing career began in 1964. He’s impressed with the Wolves’ Kevin Love who in his fourth season is often referred to as the best power forward in the league. “If he continues to do like he’s doing, for a good portion of his career, he’s going to be one of the best ever because you just don’t see anybody in this league scoring like he does and rebounding the way he does,” Silas said.

The Wolves are hosting three free TV viewing parties this month including Wednesday night’s game from Denver. The games aren’t on local TV and will be seen via NBA League Pass. The Wednesday night party begins at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen at Champps Americana in Eden Prairie.

Defending MIAC football champion St. Thomas opens spring practice on Wednesday. The Tommies spring intrasquad game will be on May 12 starting at 1 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Bethel’s Nicole Wriedt (volleyball), Gustavus’ Benjamin Ceder (soccer) and Brad Kruckeberg (football), and St. Thomas’ Dan Chapman (football) are among 58 women and men the NCAA announced have won postgraduate scholarships. The grants are $7,500 each.

The Gophers baseball team was 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference before losing three games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to Ohio State in Columbus. In a preseason coaches’ vote, the Gophers (3-3) were predicted to finish No. 3 in the conference behind Michigan State (3-3) and Purdue (7-2).

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Maturi Supports Smith Contract Extension

Posted on April 6, 2012April 6, 2012 by David Shama

Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners earlier this week he hopes an announcement will come soon regarding a contract extension for Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith. The Gophers athletic director said University of Minnesota attorney Mark Rotenberg is talking with Smith’s agent, Ricky Lefft.

Smith’s contract has two years remaining and an extension has been speculated upon for about a year. Discussions have been on and off over the last 12 months with the two sides unable to reach a deal, although neither Smith nor the University has publicly detailed the differences.

Smith said yesterday at a season-ending news conference he doesn’t expect an agreement to be reached until after a new athletic director is hired in May or June. “I am confident we’ll get it done,” he said.

Maturi, who is leaving his position at the end of June, has talked with Smith about his contract and so too has new University president Eric Kaler. “He’s (Kaler) comfortable with me being here,” Smith said.

Maturi hired Smith in 2007, thinks highly of him and wants him to stay with the Gophers. Maturi has no doubt provided a favorable report on the coach to Kaler.

“I think it’s (the contract extension) the right thing to do,” Maturi said. “I’ve always felt good about Tubby Smith. I think he’s the right fit for Minnesota.”

Smith reportedly earns close to $2 million on his present deal, and by achieving certain goals in his contract can earn more. His five year stay at Minnesota has been criticized by some fans and media. In addition to off-court problems involving the basketball program, his Big Ten record is 14 games below .500. He’s coached two teams to the NCAA tournament and this spring led the Gophers to second place in the National Invitation Tournament.

Smith’s name has often been rumored with other college openings including South Carolina last month. His agent is based in that state but the Gamecocks hired Kansas State coach Frank Martin for their opening.

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 6, 2012April 6, 2012 by David Shama

Maturi said the contract hasn’t been signed but it’s likely the Gophers will play a major conference opponent that will be a local box office draw as part of next fall’s nonconference schedule. The Gophers nonconference home schedule is frequently criticized for not having marquee opponents.

The Big Ten and ACC annual series has helped enhance the nonconference schedules for teams in both leagues. A new alliance between the Big Ten and Pac-12 might lead to an annual basketball series, further improving nonconference schedules.

A Monday article in the Wall Street Journal ranked the Gophers as the 10^th most valuable Division I college basketball program in the country. Citing a study by Ryan Brewer, an assistant professor of finance at Indiana-Purdue Columbus, the publication listed Louisville ($211.5 million) No. 1 followed by Kansas, Indiana, Ohio Sate, Arizona, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, UNLV and Minnesota ($87.9 million). The study included a formula using current revenues and expenses, and also other data. The Gophers and fellow Big Ten schools Indiana and Ohio State benefit from the lucrative Big Ten Network revenues.

Jerry Robertson, grandfather to Gophers forward Rodney Williams, said his grandson benefitted from playing near the basket when inside players Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III weren’t able to play because of injuries. Williams had three straight 20 point games in the NIT. “Rodney was forced to step up his game instead of deferring to Mbakwe and Sampson,” Robertson said.

Robertson, who coached Williams in AAU basketball, thinks his grandson will come back for his senior season rather than pursue the NBA draft.

Redshirt freshman center Elliott Eliason, a business management major, was the only Gopher basketball player to make Academic All-Big Ten this past winter. Minnesota and Ohio Sate were the only schools to have just one selection while Purdue and Indiana had a league-leading seven each. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten, student-athletes must be letter winners who are in at least a second academic year at their institutions and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Don’t be surprised if the basketball Gophers lose one or more players with remaining eligibility who decide to transfer.

The Gophers women’s swimming and diving team had 23 Academic All-Big Ten student-athletes. The men’s gymnastics team 13, the men’s swimming and diving team 11, and the women’s basketball team 10.

Timberwolves president Chris Wright said the franchise has renewed 98 percent of its Target Center lower bowl season ticket holders, and 94 percent overall. The club has sold over 900 new full season tickets and hopes to reach 2,000 by next season. That would push the total on full season tickets to more than 8,000, Wright said.

Timberwolves rookie point guard Ricky Rubio tore his ACL on March 9. The Wolves were a .500 team with him but their record is 4-11 since he’s been unable to play.

The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced tonight from Tampa as part of the Frozen Four. The finalists for the award honoring college hockey’s best player are Spencer Abbott, senior forward from the University of Maine; Jack Connolly, senior forward from the University of Minnesota-Duluth; and Austin Smith, senior forward from Colgate University. The announcement will be aired live on the NHL Network and on the Hobey Baker website at 5 p.m. Minneapolis time.

WCCO TV’s Mark Rosen signed copies of his new book, “Best Seat in the House,” for two hours last week at the downtown Barnes & Noble store. Chapters include one devoted to former Vikings coach Bud Grant who signed copies of the book at the store and surprised Rosen by staying for 90 minutes. “I would have been happy if he had stayed 15 minutes,” Rosen said.

No dates and times yet but the Vikings will play preseason games (in this order) at San Francisco, home against Buffalo and San Diego, and at Houston.

Congratulations to St. Croix Lutheran’s Carl Lemke, honored as the 2011 MFCA Coach of the Year at the Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic last week. St. Croix Lutheran won the Class 3A state championship last fall. Lemke was also recognized as the Class 3A coach of the year. Other coach of the year winners by class: Class 5A, Mike Grant, Eden Prairie; Class 4A, Mike Rowe, ROCORI; Class 2A, Brent Schroeder, Caledonia; Class 1A, Cory Larson, Dawson-Boyd; Nine Man, Andrew Fleischman, Edgerton/Ellsworth.

Wally McNeil, “Wally the Beerman,” said racehorse Wally’s Choice is retired. McNeil was a part owner of Wally’s Choice, a horse that earned the second most money ever for a Minnesota bred racehorse.

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